“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

If you have come to know these things, why do you keep living as though they were not true?  How many of those who call themselves people of faith have lives that are no different than their unbelieving neighbors?  Let the truth of the word dwell richly in you such that you are affected and live differently.  Heaven and earth will pass away, and you shall either dwell with the Lord or apart from the Lord forever.  How ought you to live, preparing for that day?

Lord, help me to have right priorities.  Guide me to understand that this world really is temporary and that what I do here does affect who I will become.  Guide me in the upward journey to focus upon becoming like Christ in and through all things.  Lead me in Your goodness to not be so focused upon this world, but upon Your truth which leads me to where I am going.

Lord Jesus, You came to redeem us so that we are no longer captive to this world’s fleeting ideas.  You have lifted me up through Your grace to be on the path of becoming like You.  Guide me, dear Lord, so that I will focus upon what is right and fitting as I prepare to be with You forever.  Lead me away from the temptations that would cause me to focus upon what this world offers me.  Amen.

“[L]ooking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” (2 Peter 3:12)

Peter is describing something which he does not know, but we know a little more because we are closer to that day.  Is He describing an atomic meltdown?  Is he describing something we can fathom but do not yet know?  A universal atomic meltdown?  The Lord created all things and knows how all things are held together.  They are held together in Him.  Do not be misled by this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind in Christ Jesus your Savior.

Lord, there are hints about the end times throughout Scripture, yet these do not really matter.  What matters is that You are the Lord and You have come so that we may have life in You.  Guide me, dear Lord, to see through the temptations of this age in order that I may live into the life You have given me by grace.  Lead me now and always; for the day is coming when this age will end.

Thank You Lord Jesus for providing salvation for all who believe.  Lead me into the salvation You have provided in order that I may be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Let me not forget Your benefits nor live for that which will pass away.  Help me to live for the eternal things You set before me and guide me in Your goodness and mercy now and forever.  May I always be found walking in Your ways.  Amen.

“Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11)

Asking the right question will move us in the right direction.  The wicked one deceives, and we get off track by not asking the right questions.  Indeed, what kind of person ought you to be?  This is the question that should drive us to holy conduct.  The Lord has called you to be one of His.  He has lifted you out of the mire to be conformed to His image.  What kind of person ought you to be?

When I see that the answer is that I am to be like Christ, it becomes simple to understand.  Not simple to do, but simple to understand.  Holy Spirit, transform and  conform me to the image of Christ.  You are growing in me what You have always intended.  Help me to ask this question every morning and then be about the business of living into the answer every day.  You are forever and have invited me into forever.

Lord Jesus, You who are the model of the godly life, guide me according to Your never-failing purposes by Your goodness You demonstrated to us through Your ministry.  Help me learn how to ask the right questions.  Help me to live the right answers.  Help me by Your grace to see that in You is all hope and that You have indeed provided all that is needed for salvation. Amen.

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

Whether it is the end of this life for you or me, or the end of the age, it will come and when it does. It will happen quickly.  Do not be surprised at the twists and turns along the way.  The Lord has told us ahead of time so that when the end comes we will not be surprised.  Too many do not heed the warning of the Lord.  Do not be one of them.  Know that the Lord will bring about all He has promised.

Lord, this age is turbulent and uncertain.  Even in the best of times, it is still filled with uncertainty.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of life that looks to You so that I may be guarded by You and Your word.  Your word is truth.  Let me not cling to this world which will burn up, but be renewed by Your spirit in my mind, heart, and soul.  Guide me dear Lord to live as You would have me live.

Come, Holy Spirit, and guard my heart and mind.  Lead me into the peace that surpasses all understanding so that no matter what is happening in this age, I may be at peace knowing that all things are in the Father’s hands.  Guide me today to keep my mind and heart in Your hands.  Lead me to do what is fitting for this day and guard me against the adversary and his tricks.  Amen.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

The Lord has waited so that You would have the opportunity to be in His kingdom.  At just the right time, He came to us.  He is waiting for whomever else is not yet walking with Him, including the unborn.  The Lord is building His kingdom and just because you have realized that you are a part of it does not mean that the Lord needs to wrap it up.  You have been given grace.  Pass along that grace to others that they too may have the opportunities you have had.

Lord, guide me away from selfish thinking where I think I am the only one who matters.  Lead me into all truth so that I may patiently await whatever You will bring into my life.  Guide me in Your goodness to see where I am not gracious to others.  Through all things, You are the One who is Sovereign.  Lead me to willingly accept Your timeline knowing that all things are in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, why is it I become so selfish and want things to end now that I have accepted You?  Guide me to have compassion for others so that I may be led by Your goodness and Your desire that none would perish.  Lead me in the way I need to go and help me see through the dark clouds of sinfulness in this age to do what is right.  Help me hold fast to Your promises today and live in them now and always.  Amen.

“But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day” (2 Peter 3:8).

What is time?  Is not time something the Lord has also created?  He is not just in our time, but in all time.  He is the creator of time.  In fact, He has, so to speak, all the time in the world to deal with you alone.  We fret over time, but the older you are, the more you know how fast it goes.  Look to the One who created all things and rest in the arms of His grace and mercy.  He will do as He has promised, for He cannot lie .

Lord, I try to figure things out and I fail.  You have created me to be who I will become.  Continue to lead me on the path of salvation so that I may continue to grow into the likeness of Christ, my Savior.  Let me not worry about progress, time, or whether I am meeting some deadline.  Instead, help me to look to You always, be at peace and be guided by the word You have given me.

Lord Jesus, You walked this earth to provide what is necessary for the sake of all who believe in order that the way of everlasting life would be shown.  Lead me according to Your goodness to know that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Guide me in the way You have established so that I do not worry about time, but act as one who is eternal because of Your grace and mercy.  Lift me up in Your arms to continue becoming what You are making of me.  Amen.

“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7).

It will come soon enough.  We all will wind up at the gate and will face Jesus.  What?  Seventy or eighty years?  Perhaps not that long.  And yes, there will be a final day.  Meanwhile, the liars will lie, and the scoffers will scoff.  But you, what will you do?  Will you come to your Maker on His terms?  Will you submit yourself to the Lord God and learn to love Him as He loves you?

Lord, You know all that I need.  I listen to the world who say, “Where is your God?”  Help me turn to You in all seasons that I may humbly walk in Your presence.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that in You alone is hope, for You are the Maker of all things.  Let me not fear judgement so much as look forward to being with You forever.  Guide me in Your goodness, O Lord.

Thank You, Jesus, that by Your stripes I am healed.  Lead me according to Your goodness to know that in You is life and liberty.  You have given me grace.  I have all the grace I need because of You.  Help me to live into the life to which I have been called knowing that in You is all truth.  Lead me now and forever, Lord, so that I may walk with You as You created me to walk.  Amen.

“[T]hrough which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water” (2 Peter 3:6)

The scoffers ask, “How could God destroy humanity?”  Sometimes, I wonder why He hasn’t destroyed it as He did in Noah’s time.  People can be so hateful and mean.  But God has His purpose in all things.  He will fulfill all the promises He has made.  It will come to pass just as He has spoken it.  Do not just look to the way things are, but to the way He will make them to be.  Look to the Lord in and for all things.

Lord, help me to see through all the nonsense of this world.  Guide me in Your goodness to understand that You have a plan and that all things shall work out according to Your plan.  You have promised that all things shall work together for our good because of Your steadfast love.  Guide me now and always by that love to know that in You is all hope and an eternal future.  Lead me out of death (the wages of sin) and into new life in You.

Lord Jesus, You are the life that has been promised.  You have come so that we who believe may have new life and have it abundantly.  Guide me as I am conformed to You in order that I would grow each day into Your likeness.  Help me to see through the dark clouds of this age and understand the clarity of Your promise.  Hold me fast to Your Word of promise that I may live by grace through faith, knowing that You are the way, truth and life.  Amen.

“For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water” (2 Peter 3:5)

God spoke and all that we see came into existence.  Apart from God speaking it into existence, it does not exist.  Do not let this escape your notice.  The Lord speaks His promises, and it shall be as He has spoken them.  Jesus said, “Father, I thank You that I have not lost one.”  It is so because Jesus has spoken it.  The Word of God has spoken and all who are in Him have been renewed by water and the Word.

Lord, on the one hand, this is a great mystery.  On the other hand, it is so simple that the smallest child can understand.  You have created all things and what You say comes to pass.  Help me to not get caught up in the manipulation of words that this age uses to confuse and lead me astray.  Help me to hear Your clear words of truth and follow what You have already spoken.  Guide me, Lord, in Your way of truth and life.

Lord Jesus, You are the Word made flesh.  In You alone is there all hope.  You have spoken and it is so.  By Your grace I am healed.  Lead me ever deeper into the faith You have given me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to walk humbly with You all the days of my life.  Help me now and always to hear Your word and to hold fast to the promise You have spoken for all who will believe.  Amen.

“Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”  (2 Peter 3:3-4)

The Lord is not slow as some count slowness.  The Lord is purposeful.  If it helps, think of it this way: if the Lord came while the Apostles were alive, you would not be here.  The Lord knows those who are His.  He awaits fulfilment in our age of what was prayed, “Father, I thank You that I have not lost one.”  The Lord is the author of creation, and all things are in His hands.  Look to the One who saves.

Lord, I too become impatient and conditional in my thinking.  I sometimes think that unless You do this or that, this must all be my imagination.  Lead me away from such doubts and sinful thinking to live into the life You give me through faith.  Guide me according to Your purposes so that I will learn from You how truly to live.  Keep me this and every day, O Lord, and help me to understand more fully the truth You have revealed once for all by Your grace.

Guide me, dear Jesus, in the way of salvation.  Lead me according to Your purposes so that I may be sustained by the truth and not led astray by the lies of this world.  Everything is in Your hands, and the Father has promised that it all works together for good for those who love Him.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may grow in Your likeness and be led by the truth You have revealed to all who believe.  Amen.